St. Mary’s Medical Center now diagnosing coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) with new advanced technology

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

The interventional cardiology team at St. Mary’s Medical Center (SMMC), a member of Marshall Health Network, is pleased to announce the recent adoption of the Coroventis CoroFlow Cardiovascular System.

This advanced technology allows for the detection of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), an often-overlooked disease in which the smallest vessels of the heart have abnormalities that are not detectable on an angiogram.

“This new solution for patients suffering from chronic angina caused by CMD will help ensure patients are properly diagnosed,” Melissa Mielcarek, MSHA, MBA, FACHE, Executive Director of St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute explained. “and the best course of treatment can be identified.”

Angina is caused by inadequate blood flow in the heart. The diagnosis and treatment of angina has traditionally focused on disease in the three major epicardial arteries, but most of the blood supply in the heart is in smaller vessels, or microvasculature, which are too small to be directly visualized.

The CoroFlow Cardiovascular System uses data from Abbott’s PressureWire ™ X Guidewire to estimate the flow in the macro and micro vasculature of the heart, allowing physicians to precisely diagnose the cause of their patient’s angina. This diagnosis is critical in optimizing patient treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

The journey from first experiencing symptoms to accurate diagnosis can be long and arduous for those patients suffering from CMD. Warning signs of CMD include:

• Patients presenting to the ER with chronic angina
• Patients with a negative stress test but suffering from angina
• Patients suffering from angina post-PCI
• Patients who’ve been told they are suffering from indigestion but have found no relief for their symptoms
• Patients suffering from angina, but coronary arteries appear clear under angiography
• Female patients suffering from angina as they are inordinately affected compared to men

Marshall Health Network is proud to offer a solution that will give many patients clarity about the cause of their symptoms to help reduce their chest pain and improve their quality of life. Learn more about our services at st.marys.org/heart.